Why go
Use this overview to decide where to base yourself and how widely to roam. Palma concentrates architecture and museums, the Serra de Tramuntana favors scenic day trips, and the north and east coasts pair beaches with historic towns and caves.
The full story
Mallorca is the largest island in the Balearic archipelago and far more varied than a single beach resort suggests. Palma is both the island capital and the political center of the Balearic Islands, with a historic core facing a large natural bay. Northwest of the city, the Serra de Tramuntana rises sharply above terraces, villages and a cliff-cut coast. The Pla, or central plain, opens between this range and the lower hills of the east. Resorts occupy parts of the shoreline, yet old towns, working markets, archaeological sites and protected wetlands remain close enough to shape a balanced trip. The useful planning choice is geographic: stay focused on one coast or valley each day, then use Palma as an urban counterpoint.